President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday for a state visit to the United Kingdom as a guest of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The president will be accompanied by the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. The British monarch will host the Nigerian leader and his wife at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the visit is the first by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years and the first time a Nigerian president will be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
The statement said the visit is aimed at strengthening relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and exploring cooperation in areas including immigration, trade, investment and cultural exchange.
During the visit, the king will invite the president and the first lady to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection related to Nigeria. King Charles and President Tinubu will also hold private discussions and meet organisations involved in interfaith dialogue.
A state banquet will be held by the Royal Family in honour of the Nigerian delegation.
President Tinubu will also hold a bilateral meeting with British prime minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street. The meeting is expected to lead to expanded engagement between officials of both countries and the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.
The president will also witness the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria for the refurbishment of two ports. The project will cover the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
Tinubu will also attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition which will showcase modern arts and culture and take part in a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders and members of the diaspora community.
Members of the president’s delegation include Senate president Godswill Akpabio; attorney general and minister of justice Lateef Fagbemi; minister of solid minerals Dele Alake; minister of information and national orientation Mohammed Idris; minister of state for foreign affairs Bianca Ojukwu; minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy Wale Edun; and minister of industry, trade and investment Jumoke Oduwole.
Others are minister of culture and creative economy Hannatu Musawa; minister of communications and digital economy Bosun Tijani; chief of defence staff Christopher Musa; national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu; and director general of the National Intelligence Agency Mohammed Mohammed.
The president is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the visit.
